Starting up in the dark, distant past known as 2014, The Sherlocks have come a fair way over the past
three years. To say they haven't released a full album yet and have relied
solely on a discography of six singles and a bunch of unreleased tracks,
they've got an absolutely rabid fan-base.
I went to Nottingham's Rescue Rooms, (just adjoining the infamous
Rock City) without knowing what to expect. Apart from sharing the name of my
girlfriend's cat, and their origins from a woefully under-represented
Bolton-Upon-Dearne, I was essentially clueless. The only titbits of information
I could gather was that the last time they came to Nottingham, it was
"pure mayhem". I doubt the gig heralded the introduction of a purely
anarchistic society, but I'm sure they mean it was rather mental. I see that we
have different definitions of what constitutes 'pure mayhem'.
Just to clarify before I start ranting and get all carried away
from my last few strands of journalistic integrity, I just want to say that I
really enjoyed the gig. Honestly, I did. No sarcasm or facetious intent here, I
very much enjoyed the venue, the support acts, and The Sherlocks themselves.
Anything negative from here on out can be immediately disregarded as me being
grumpy, cynical, or a combination of the two. So, without further ado, on with
the review.
I like venues like the Rescue Rooms. Obviously, aside from paying
£4 for a can of Red Stripe, smaller locations like these let me stand near the
back, yet still get a clear view of bands, and the young lads who are being
sick in the middle of the crowd. There were no mentions or warnings of
projectile vomiting beforehand, but thankfully I managed to keep a safe
distance away.
First up, braving the very first support slot, were Faux Pas. An indie-punk band from
York, the lads did a cracking job in front of a minimal crowd. Apparently,
people aren't punctual to gigs these days, although I did initially think that Faux Pas just meant some kind of break
before the first advertised support act went on stage.
Next, following a much more traditional indie-rock formula were Oddity Road, although I'm afraid I
can't remember where these guys are from. Oh, apologies, they're from Sheffield,
as they were very adamant on letting us know. They pumped out cleaner, moodier
tunes that the main act, but they gave a memorable performance and certainly
are one to watch.
Then of course, we had an interval until The Sherlocks arrived.
This interval reminded me of a personal pet-peeve of mine, which is half-hearted
attempts at singing. There were the usual indie-filler tunes; Two Door
Cinema Club and The Smiths struck a chord with everyone, but then when
'Parklife' and 'Not Nineteen Forever' hit, the crowd suddenly turned into a
nervous wreck, mumbling along until the chorus hit. Come on lads, either sing
your heart out or don't bother, we're not fans of indecisiveness here.
Coming out to 'Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag', you could tell the
crowd was bubbling: From the young 'uns who couldn't brave the surrounding
pubs, to older folks around the room's perimeter, everyone was eager for the
two sets of brothers which make up The
Sherlocks.
Opening with 'Last Night', (I mean, what else would they open
with?), the crowd seemed to instantly live up to expectations, trying to best
the liveliness displayed in the same venue in the prior year. Then
blasting through 'Escapade' and unreleased tune 'Nobody Knows', they ploughed
through the absolute belter 'Will You Be There?'
Here's the one worry I have about The Sherlocks. It's not the
fact that head-honcho Kiaran made the wise decision to wear a scarf and jacket
in a small venue rammed with about 200 people, (you're not going outside mate,
there's no need to wrap up like that), it's the expectations that have been
placed upon these four lads.
Hailing as an indie band from remotely close to the steel
city, everyone and their Auntie Mabel have jumped to the conclusion that these
guys are the next big thing. That's quite possibly true, especially looking at
the gigs that these lads put on. But putting that much pressure on an unsigned
band will influence them, and not necessarily to their benefit. With many
songs based around nights out, or their consequence, it's very easy to compare The Sherlocks' music to that of the Arctic Monkeys' first album, even The Courteeners.
The Sherlocks aren't doing that. Yes, some
songs reference nightlife and attempts to pull, (chiefly 'Last Night', 'Live
for the Moment', 'Escapade', 'Chasing Shadows' and 'Was It Really Worth
It?'), but they centre around much broader, vaguer concepts; you don't get a
tune purely concerning getting a taxi home with this lot.
But that being said, the band shine the most when they try new
stuff and distance themselves from such assumptions. Five of the songs from the
eleven-track set list are yet to be released, and these are by far the most
interesting. They may have the tried-and-tested indie formula down to a tee,
with a simplistic riff following an equally simple chorus, but tracks like
'Motions' and 'Blue' try and break that concept. For example, 'Blue' has more
in common with western-sounding ballads than any typical indie banger,
addressing concerns and anxieties with the future. As a result, it demands
your attention in a set which risked drifting into familiar, possibly generic-sounding
territory.
But thankfully, the lads turned it around, closing with two of
their best tunes. It was at this point when about four teenage lads were sick
and had to miss the gig's close, just to give you a fully immersive gig
experience. 'Was It Really Worth It?', their latest single and possibly best
song yet was the penultimate tune, which was closely followed by 'Chasing
Shadows'. I can assure you, the crowd did not let up at this point, (although I
suppose that's a benefit of having an eleven-song set). Stuck in a frenzy
throughout the final song, The
Sherlocks seemed to wield an
unyielding grip on the crowd.
Overall, it was a top gig, filled with promising support acts, a
bubbling, lively crowd, and a headliner that are quickly spreading their wings
in the indie scene. Top job lads, just dress appropriately next time.
